Milk-can.



E. H. HUMPHREY.

MILK CAN.

APPLICATION FILED nov. a, 1910.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Attorneys.

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN HALL HUMPHREY, or corner, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro .msrnn M.

mum), or HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA.

MILK-CAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Application filed November 3, 1910. Serial No. 590,585.

cans containing milk must remain under seal while being transported from the producer to the purchaser, so as to prevent tampering with the contents of the can without detection.

Oneof the objects of the present invention is to provide a milk can having simple means whereby the lid orcover can be quickly secured in closed position and sealed, the connecting means being of such a nature as to support the can and its contents whenever'it is desired to carry the can by means of a handle connected to the cover.

A further object is to provide a cover so constructed as to constitute means for protecting the contents of the can from the action of heat, said cover being constructed as an insulating device.

Another object is to provide a cover so shaped as to snap into the can and thus be retained against accidental displacement when the cover is unsecured by means of the devices hereinbeforc mentioned.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can cover embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the body of the can, the middle portion thereof being removed. Fig. 3 is a section through a portion of the can and cover, the two parts being shown secured together and sealed. Fig. 4 is a-perspective'view of one of the can engaging studs and the latch carried thereby.

Referring to-the figures by characters of tom of which is preferably bowl shaped or concavo convex, as indicated at 2, this bottom being surrounded by a supporting flange 3 made u of a metal band the upper edge of which is folded inwardly to form a supporting ledge 4 soldered or otherwise secured to the bottom as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The upper portion of the can body is gradually curved u to the throat 5 of the can and extending irom this throat isan upwardly flared neck 6 provided about the upper portion thereof with a reinforcing bead 7. formed within the neck preferably at diametrically opposed points. Neck 6 is adapted to receive the cover of the can, this cover including a lower frusto-eonical portion 9 as shown in Fig. 1 and which is closed at the bottom as indicated atlO. A flange 11 extends downwardly from the margin of the bottom 10, this flange being intersected at desired points by incisions 12 and there being an annular groove 13 formed within the upper portion of the flange.

It is designed, when the cover is inserted into the neck of the can to have the flanges 11 spring through the throat portion of the can until the groove 13 becomes located within the throat whereupon the flanges will spring outwardly so as to cause the throat to become seated within the groove.

lVhen the parts are thus assembled, the frusto-conical portion 9 fits snugly upon the neck 6.

The top of the cover is formed of a concavo-eonvex top plate 14 secured, at its periphery, to the frusto-conical portion 9 in any preferred manner. It will be apparent, therefore, that a hollow cover is thus pro- .vided, in which dead air is contained, and

this air serves to materially retard the admission of heat to tllQlIlteIlDI of the can through the cover thereof. As an additional means for insulating the can from heat directed upon the cover, said cover may be provided with a lining 15 of asbestos or other heat resisting material. A handle 16 is preferably secured upon the plate 14.

Extending from the frusto-conical portion 9 at diametrically opposed points, are attaching members. Each of these members preferably includes a cylindrical stud 17' having a longitudinal groove 18 within which is pivoted a latch 19, said latch being reference 1 designates a can body the hot-- Openings 8 are 5 one end thereof through an op 30 sions or the like, and, as

the flange 11 will snap into engagement with the throat 5. At the same time the studs 17 will move into the openings 8 and, as the frusto-conical portion 9 of the cover comes into contact with the neck 6 the latches 19 swing outwardly by gravity so that their upper ends move into position directly under the bead 7 and thus prevent the cover from being lifted out of the can unless the latches 19 are first pressed back into the grooves 18.

20 In order to prevent the latches from being pushed back into the grooves, seals, such as indicated at 23 may be inserted through the openings 20 and unless these seals have been tampered with the consignee will have assur- 25 ance that the contents of the can has not been exposed after being placed in the can.

Attention is called to the fact that the interior of the can is entirely free of angles, recesses and similar objectionable depresa result, the can can be -quickly and thoroughly cleaned.

By providing a cover which will snap into engagement with the throat portion of the can, the same will be positively held in 3 closed position even though the cover should not be locked by means of the latches 19. This is especially important in that the accidental overturning of a can prior to the sealing thereof would be unlikely to result in the 0 loss of the contents of the can.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a receptacle havmg an apertured neck, of a cover insertible into the neck, and latches movable with the cover and through the apertures, said latches being shiftable by gravity into engagement withthe neck.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured neck, of a cover insertible into the neck, means extending from the cover and insertible into the apertures, and gravity latches carried by said means and shiftable automatically with the neck. I

3. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured neck, of a cover insertible into the neck, depending means upon the cover and fixed'relative thereto for insertion into the aperture, and a device carried by said means for enga 'ing the neck to hold the cover upon the nec I.

4. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured neck, of a cover insertible into the neck, a stud projecting from the cover and insertible into the aperture, and a latch movably connected to the stud and shiftable into engagement with the neck to hold the cover upon the neck.

into engagement I 5. The combination with a receptacle, of

a cover, and means carried by the cover for shifting, by gravity, into engagement With the receptacle to hold the coverupon the receptacle.

6. The combination with a receptacle, and a cover, of gravity operated means for automatically securing the cover and the receptacle together When the receptacle is closed by the cover.

7. The combination with a' receptacle, of a cover, and a latch carried by the cover and shiftable into engagement with the receptacle to secure the cover in closed position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

I EDWIN HALL HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

' F. T. OCHSENREITER,

HERBERT D. LAWSON. 

